






— OR — 






HOW AMERICA WAS 
DISCOVERED. 



— « < »»> 



A TRAGI-COMEDY IN TEN ACTS. 




BY Kl-BERT LEinilS. 



1533. 




-OR — 



HOW AMERICA WAS 
DISCOVERED. 




■A TRAGI-COMEDY- 



^^^ Si 



IN TEN ACTS. 



DRAMATIS PERSONS, /^//rV 



Christopher Columbus. 
Americus Vespucius. 
Ferdinand, King of Spain. 
Isabella, Queen of Spain. 
Levi T. Mandelbaum, Usurer. 
Servant at Court. 
Page at Court. 
Four Court Ladies. 
John, the Queen's Treasurer. 
Two Aids to Treasurer. 
Beppo, a Strolling Jester and Rhymer. 
Gabion, Longa, Patra, Zego, Viletto, 
Sailors. 



Jacko, Keeper of the "Packhorse" Inn. 
Suzi, Maid at the Inn, and Longa's 
Sweetheart. 

Priest. 

Chief of the Ojibbeways. 
Princess, Daughter of the Chief. 
Medicine Man of the Ojibbeways. 
"Aged Horse with the ^ 
Ringbone," I 

"O Carry Me Long," 
"Annie Rooney," | 

"Down went McGinty." J 
Squaws. 
Indians. 



Medicine 
'y Man's 
Counsellors. 






Entered for Copyright in 1893 by ALBERT L. THAYER. 



All rights reserved. 




Ti^P96-u075Q4 



THE DOWD PRINTING CO., WINSTED, CONN. 



T^CT I. 

Scene t. — A forest, at the left is a wigwam with front open to audience; seated 
therein is an Indian Chief loho muses in a subdued voice asfolla>vs: — 

"Alas! I fear some great and sad change is coming to the Red Men of the forests, 
for last night after the chase, I laid me down to sleep and visions strange came to 
me on my couch and did alarm me sore. I must the good medicine man summon, 
to learn what it all doth portend." (Calls servant; enter a little Indian who drops 
upon his knees and strikes his forehead on the stage twice.) 

CHIEF. — "Go on the wings of mighty speed and summon to my tent the mighty 
Saga— Medicine Man of the Ojibbeways; haste and bid him bring his book of 
wild and ancient lore and prophecy." 

SERVANT.— "I go, Chief." (Exit.) 

CHIEF. — "For a thousand years or more my tribe has wandered these forests, for 
, years their canoes have traversed these streams; for years they have hunted, 
trapped and fished, for years they have come and gone as they would and none 
have said them nay. . The mountain air has been breathed but by them, the 
flowers bloomed on the Prairies but for them, the wild beasts were made for 
their sport and pleasure, and now my heart is sorrowful within me for I feel 
that we are on the eve of a great change. Something here" (hand on breast,) 
"tells me of a change. In the breeze it is whispered, I hear it in the bird's song 
the flowers and grasses nod their heads and tell the seci'et to each other. Ah 
me ! Ah me ! Who have we here ? " (Enters Indian maiden — the Princess — 
Chief's daughter.) 

PRINCESS.— "Father!" 

CHIEF. — "Yes, my love," (takes her by the hand) "What can an old chief do for 
his darling ? Thine eyes are bright as the dew on the grass at morn, and thy 
foot is so light that the subtlest Red Man could not track thee through the for- 
est, for not a grass or flower stalk would be broken in thy path. What can I 
do for thee, thou daughter of the Chief of the Redskins? " 

PRINCESS. — "Father, I would a favor ask, but the Princess knows not how to sue 
her chieftain father for it. Listen, father. 'Twas but yesternight I had a 
dream." (Chief starts.) "What ails thee, father ? " 

CHIEF. — "Naught my child that need distress thee, but I too had a dream and it 
confused and troubled me. And did thine trouble thee, daughter ? " 

PRINCESS. — "Nay, father, my dreams were sweet though very strange. I dreamed 
of a man so dilferent from these of the woods and plains I long have known so 
well; his hair was short, his face was white as my pony Whitefoot, and on his 
upper lip a graceful beard parted in the center and curlingly wandered either 
way and nestled cunningly on either cheek; and on his chin his beard grew 
long and pointed, and oh so thick, I longed to lay my face upon it." (Joyfully) 
"O he WAS heautifid and I love him." 

CHIEF. — (Aside.) "Hum, hum, we must look into this. That dream will go with 
mine to the medicine man." (To daughter) "Well, well my darling, go now to 
thy tent and dream away the hours if that please thee. Farewell, my daugh- 
ter, sunbeam of mine eye." 

PRINCESS. — "Farewell, my father, be.st of Red Men." (Throws a kiss and departs.) 
Chief folds his arms and watches her out of sight. 

Enter Medicine Man with boy and several Indians. He bows low to chief and 
puts his hand upon his heart in token of loyalty. Motions the Indians to be seated, 
which they proceed to do, sitting cross-legged on the ground. 

MEDICINE MAN.— "Why does the Chief of the Ojibbeways send for the skilled 
Medicine Man ? Does his heart desire to know if he will be successful in the 
chase or coming fight with the enemy , or does he desire greater power over 
the beasts of the craggy steeps or forest fastnesses than he now has ? " 



CHIEF.— "No, no, Medicine Man, 'tis a subtler matter than these that affects thy 
Chief. Last night 1 lay me down to sleep and strange dreams came, so strange 
and dreadful that I awoke. My brain was on fire, my tongue was parched and 
every bone was aching with ten thousand pains; but above all the memory of 
that dream hung o'er me like a cloud and wrapped me as in a winding sheet. 

MEDICINE MAN.— "The Chief should tell his dream and then will the Medi- 
cine Man get at its import; then from the stars, the sun, the winds, water and 
the fire, will the Medicine Man draw the great secret of the Chief's dream with 
all its import, whether for good or evil." 

CHIEF.— "Then listen. 'Twas.but at the early rising of the moon that I sought 
my rest, the peace that comes from winning in the fight was in my heart, the 
flickering of my fire threw long arrowy points of light and shadows across the 
wigwam walls, and lulled by the murmur of the winds through the mountain 
tree tops, I slept. All was peace then, but soon a great change came. I seemed 
to stand on the borders of a mighty lake, so wide I could not see the other 
shore, and out— far out— on the mighty water I saw a canoe so broad and vast 
that all the Ojibbeways might sit therein and yet leave room for more. One 
there was who looked a very god. He stood upon the deck clad in shiny red 
and black! one hand was spread above his eyes to shield them from the western 
sun, while the other hand extended pointed toward the nearing shore, and 
from a hundred lips I heard the cry 'Land ho; land ho ! ' These men were 
white with pointed beards, and soon they landed. We greeted them as broth- 
ers though we thought them gods and feared the while; then came a change; 
the skies grew black and threatening, the lightning hissed hotly through the 
darkness, these white men angered and launched great thunderbolts upon us 
and drove us into the lake, and we were all drowned. And 'twas yesternight 
that the Princess, the lode star of the Ojibbeways, dreamed of a white man so 
beautiful that it turned her little head. What means it, Medicine Man, what 
means it? Search Nature; the earth and the heavens must yield an interpreta- 
tion af ojiee. I cannot longer endure this agony — I have spoken." (Folds his 
arms and looks inquiringly at the Medicine Man. ) 

MEDICINE MAN. — "The dream of the great Chief brings much of sorrow and of 
joy to the Red Man, for he has the gift of prophecy though he knows it not. 
Kena, the gentle spirit of the southern breeze, and Netka, spirit of the eastern 
zephyr, and Blonga, the mighty Saga pi the western whirlwind, and Teka, 
laughing spirit of the tinkling water of the mountain stream, have combined 
and spoken together in his heart while he slept, and now he speaks to us. He 
is a prophet; let us interpret his prophecies. Let the great Medicine Man, the 
skilled Arcturus of the Red Man, take an observation of the heavens." (Pro- 
duces a long necked bottle and steps outside the wigwam and takes a sweeping 
survey of the sky. While he is looking, two or three large gilt stars are let 
down and drawn back, in plain sight of the audience. Medicine Man gazes at 
them through his bottle long and earnestly. Stars get lively and jump up and 
down. Medicine Man gets excited and rushes into tent and says.) "The mighty 
Medicine Man has seen the stars in conjunction. They fight and they embrace. 
It is not plain what such acts portend. Let the wise brothers see for them- 
selves while the Medicine Man ponders awhile." 

(Sits down before the fire while the others go out. The stars perform as before, 
and all look on astonished. One Indian has a huge piece of smoked glass. All re- 
turn to wigwam and seat themselves gravely as before. Medicine Man rises with 
huge book over which he has been poring. Other Indians watch him with interest 
observing great silence, and nod frequently at each other. Medicine Man at 
last raises his hand slowly and speaks.) 

MEDICINE MAN.— 'The great Medicine Man has this night seen greater wonders 
in the heavens than he ever saw before. He has seen the great star of the 
Little Bear drop from its place in the clouds, and in company with others de- 
scend to the height of a man. To the great Medicine Man it has spoken, to his 
ear alone has it told its seci-et. 'Now is the earth ripe' it said, 'for the truth to 
be spoken and heard.' Listen, and the Medicine Man of the Ojibbeways will tell 
the secret of the winds, the waters and the sky as it has been revealed by the 
star. 'There will come' it said, 'from across the wide water, a Brave, his name 
you will learn from the lore of the ancient tribes. On the page of bloodshed 
below the proof of the occult power of the Draghooda, is a name written back- 
ward and half- the symbols left out that it might not be kpown until the great 
Star of the Little Bear should drop from its place at its proper season and 



whisper the missing symbols.' To-night these symbols were whispered by this 
starry messenger. They were M. R. C. S. E. P. C. U. Now turning to the 
page of bloodshed below the proof of the occult power of the Draghooda, 
your Medicine Man finds a name that has long been a mystery to all the tribes. 
Nothing could be made from it; no one could interpret it. It has been written 
for thousands of years, but thou art the first to hear it, for thy Medicine Man is 
now to open the great secret of the occult past, to unlock the mighty secret of 
the paleolic ages. Sing now the Hurricane Song— of the wind that travels the 
prairies, of the oak that falls, of the reed that bends but never breaks, of the 
roaring of the mighty pine tops, of the whir of the wild bird's wing and the 
flutter of the falling leaf." 

(Medicine Man lights with a burning brand, red and green lights which will give 
wigwam interior weird effects, and the Indians sway back and forth— still sitting— 
and sound a note and then chant in a monotonous even rise and fall of notes the 
following: 

"Why in the woods do the pine trees sing, 

Why do they sob and moan ? 
Why do the winds their voices raise 
And whither but now have they flown? 
They cry! they sigh — 
They die, — they die. 

And where, ah where are their sighs to-day, 

And their breath that it comes not back? 
We have stood on the rock by the water's side 
And seen the tempest sweep the tide 

As it followed the sea gull's track; 
And the skies grow gray 
To the angry day, 

And the breezes cry and moan, 
But where they go, or where they stay, 

The Great Spirit knows alone. 
Then whisper soft to my waiting ear 

And tell Earth's secret low; 
But we list in vain 
For to us not plain 

Is the voice of the winds that blow. 
Then cry and shout to the world about, 

And we must wait in vain, 
For the Spirit's ear can only hear 

The words of the wind and rain. 
They cry; they sigh; 
They die, they die." 

(When the song ceases, the Medicine Man resumes). 

MEDICINE MAN. — "Now are we ready for the opening of the great mystery, the 
unsealing of the Red Men's book of fate that was given to the ancient Ojibbe- 
ways by the mighty Saga of the Thunder period of the Glacial epoch." (Pro- 
duces a large blackboard). "I will now place on this board the letters whispered 
by the star of the Little Bear, so:" — (Marks on board the letters M. R. C. S. E. 
P. C. U. spaced so another letter can be placed between each). "And now I 
produce the letters found in the book of prophecy. They are these:" (writes 
on board — S I U S V U I E A). "You will remember the star of the Little 
Bear whispered that these symbols were arranged backward, so I will turn 
them ai'ound, and placing them thus" (writes and fills the spaces) "we have 
these words: AMERICUS VESPUCIUS. What have we here? What mean 
these words ? Does the Red Man know ? Does the 'Aged Horse with the Ring- 
bone' know? Can the Chief *0 Carry Me Long' tell? Can the Squaw 'Silver 
Threads Among the Gold' answer? Can the Buck 'Annie Rooney' answer? 
Do I hear the secret from the Brave 'Down Went McGinty' ? I hear nothing; 
then will the gi-eat Medicine Man, by the dreams of the mighty Chief and the 
pride of his heart, the Princess of the tribe, tell to the listening braves. Four 
moons from hence there comes a mighty warrior of the white faces; there 
shall be no shadow of brown on his cheeks, but his step will be firm, his heart 
brave, and though his face will be pale it will not be from fear. He is made 
that way and can't help it. He is now on the wide water and with him an 
army of pale faced braves. Their mighty canoe has wings like the eagle's, but 



longer; it has trees growing from its top that tower to the heavens. He comes 
to call us brothers; let us meet him as friends. He is mighty and will have the 
tempest and winds at his call, for I heard the booming of the wind more loudly 
and fierce than ever before, off over the wide lake when the star whispered. 
The pale-faced brother has a voice like the thunder when he is angry; but he 
whispers sweetly as the mountain breeze on a summer night, when he is not 
disturbed. Let us then welcome the pale faces in good faith and kindliness, 
for it is good policy to do so, and the great Medicine Man knows on which side 
his bread is buttered, every time. This then is the prophecy; and the name of 
the pale face who appeared in the dreams of our Chief and the Princess is 
Americus Vespucius. I have done." (Sits, and the Braves smg out hoarsely), 

"It is well, we understand. 

And will take our brothers by the hand." 

CURTAIN. 



KCT II. 

Scene by the Sea in Spain. Columbus pacing the Shore. 

COLUMBUS.— "O bitter tears and anguish I cannot utter nor suppress. I could 
weep for months if it would avail me aught; but no, here I must wait with 
both feet chained to this bit of shore, while the other world beyond yon sunlit 
sea doth ever beckon, beckon me to cross. Why, O Lord, dost Thou put into 
the breast of Thy creatures, wild impulses that burn and sear the life away, 
while he who holds them down crushes out his own Hf e while he does so ? I 
have sought aid from Portugal and Genoa in vain, and must I fail now ? Must 
I sleep and dream away the hours that need my work ? Why, any one can do 
that, can idly lie upon the beach or brace his back against a mooring post and 
stand and dream away the sunny hours without effort, building such glori- 
ous plans and castles that naught but fairy land will seem to lie about him; but 
for me, Columbus, to whom some subtle spirit is ever whispering, it will never 
do. Even now my better self prompts me to go straight forward to the King, 
demand audience, and ask for aid; but if I do will it be presumption on my 
part? Who shall decide? If he receives but to spurn me from his presence, 
all Spain will laugh at my folly and I shall be no better than honest Beppo who 
lolls about the beach and writes rhyming couplets on the shells for young lads 
and lasses who walk the sands clasped hand in hand. O for one to advise who 
could know my desires and understand them. One who could judge, who 
could feel and appreciate every emotion of my heart, every longing and desire 
of my soul. But folly — who could feel as I do ? Who has ever felt as I do now? 
To whom come the luring, enchanting, beckoning calls such as I have in my 
dreams and waking moments ? To whom come the impulses, the hopes, the 
aspirations, the beliefs, but to me ? And, believing as I do, and feeling confi- 
dent of my ability in this matter, I will seek audience with the King nor dally 
longer idly waiting; * * * and should my visit prove fruitless, yonder sea shall 
float my dead body, perchance to the self same shore where my hopes are 
founded; and though my mortal eyes may never be permitted to behold them, 
yet will I die knowing that I have done all in my power to do." (Starts to go 
out at L, meets Beppo). 

BEPPO. — "Good morrow. Master Columbus, see this shell, I have written upon it, 
and when I picked it up it was so clean and pure that I said to myself: 'Beppo 
will write a prophecy upon it for some one, and that some one shall be the first 
person he meets', so here it is, Master, it is thine, for I meet thee first." 

COLUMBUS. — "I want no shells, honest Beppo. Give it to some love sick youth 
or shy maiden who can best appreciate such poetry as thine." 

BEPPO (sadly.— "1^ ay, good Columbus, don't pass me so, thy looks are worse than 
those of a love sick lad or lass either for that matter. What ails thee, good 
master ? Can Beppo do aught for the best sailor on the Riviera, or can he sing 
to him a little canticle that will make his face break in pieces with so many 
smiles ? " (Whips out a small guitar from under his cloak and snaps the strings, 
Columbus puts out both his hands with a deprecating gestured 



COLlTMBtJS.— "Nay, nay, my good youth, I'll take thy shell if that will satisfy 
but no tunes, an it please thee. The roar of the ocean is music to iny 
ears, but they are altogether too coarse for thy divine art." (Takes shell and 
reads): 

"Some are born to deeds sublime, 

Others but to while away 

The moments of their little day." 

Does a voice speak in thy heart ? 

Smother not its tone, 

Work ; if needs — alone.''^ 
(Columbus starts and looks wildly around.) "Well, well, good Beppo, I thank 
thee for this. I will wear it for a charm next my heart, and it shall never leave 
my breast while these arms can keep it there. Thanks, and thanks again, my 
good friend. May thy prophecy prove in my case a good one for I feel its in- 
spiration." (Goes out at L). 

BEPPO. — "Well, well, I wish I could remember what I wrote on the shell. How 
changed he appeared. I can't understand it at all; and yonder he walks with 
head erect and with a hearty stride, and when I met him his head was bent low 
as if he was searching for clams, and his feet dragged along as though to push 
them out when he found them. Well, well, lack a day ! Beppo must go out 
to yonder sailing boat and perchance he can sell some shells to the strangers 
therein." (Starts to go out R and meets a group of sailors who are laughing 
heartily and who come in from R.) "What now, comrades? Why dost thou 
laugh so heartily? Art thou off for a holiday, or has the Landlord of the 
'Packhorse' asked thee in to sup at his expense? " 

ZEGO. — That ivauld be well worth laughing at, good Beppo, but such a thing will 
never cause us even to smile, I fear. I'lay, we were but laughing at Columbus. 
Yonder he goes." (Points with hand extended), "ha, ha, ho, ho, ho ! What a 
funny fellow he is to be sure." 

BEPPO. — "An what is there about him to make thee laugh, I wonder. Why, I but 
j ust met him and he was as woe begone as a fisherman who has got no fish and 
lost his boat in the bargain. A pretty sight to laugh at I say; better weep and 
keep him company." 

GABION. — "Well, we have somewhat more to laugh at than thou knowest, fool. 
Why, 'twas but a few hours since he asked us to join our fate with his and 
drown out on the ocean, way out beyond the farthest line you can see when you 
shade your eye from the glistering sun where it tracks itself in golden light out 
yonder." 

BEPPO. — "And did he ask thee to drmvn with him ? " 

LONGA. — Why, not in so many words; but he asked us to sail with him across to 
the other side. He says there is another side, ha, ha! ho, ho, ho! another side." 
(Sarcastically.) 

BEPPO.— "An mayn't there be? " 

VILETTO.— "O fool, dost think as Columbus tells thee? " 

BEPPO.— "Why, no, but I thought"— (Hesitatingly.) 

ZEGO. — ''Thmight? Thou hadst never a thought in thy life that was thine own. 
Don't talk of thoughts." 

BEPPO. — "Then I won't, master, but please answer me this. If a man could sail 
on and on for months, or years if needs be without interruption, where would 
he come to at last ? " 

LONGA, — "Why, he'd come, — huh — well," (to Zego) "where would he come to?" 

ZEGO. — "What? Why he'd come to — plague take it, man, how dost thou suppose 
I know. I never went out beyond the islands." 

VILETTO.— "Well, I've had no thoughts on this before. Methinks I'd like to try 
it once. I think I'll go with Columbus." 

ALL SAILORS. — "Ha ha ha! ho ho ho! " (pointing at Viletto and dancing around) 
"look at him." 

BEPPO. — "He's the only man in the company except me." (Turns to Viletto). 
"We'll think Columbus's thoughts, won't we ? " 



VILETTO.— "Perhaps, good Beppo; but run along now, and write thy love rhymes 
on the shells. Come on, boys, to the Packhorse. We'll test the landlord's abil- 
ity in his profession, and the gentle Suzi can wait on us, and to-night my lad," 
(turning to Longa) "thou canst twang thy guitar underneath her window while 
she listens to thy song." 

LONGA.— "Have done thy foolish jests. Many a man has joked himself to death 
ere now, and thy fate may be no better." (Pvits his hand to handle of knife 
protruding from his belt). 

VILETTO.— "What here, no quarrels now mind." (Sings) "All is good faith and 
joUity, we'll linger here in friendship and in love." (All go out at L singing.) 

CURTAIN. 



MCT III, 

Scene, interior Royal Palace, Sxjain. King Ferdinand and Isabella on the throne. 
Four Maids of Honor and Ladies in waiting, also Page present. 

ISABELLA.— "My lord, why that frown upon thy brow ? Can I not drive it from 
thee? What is it makes thee sigh, and what clouds thy face ? Tell me, I pray 
thee." 

FERDINAND.— "It is naught, dear lady. Men have cares it were not wise to dis- 
cuss. Much must lie concealed in the heart of a man who has the fate of a 
nation in his grasp, and who plans to thwart the powers who lie in wait to 
seize his throne." 

ISABELLA sighs.— "'Tis so, my lord; but women's hearts may break while sor- 
rowing over troubles caused by frowning husbands who illy conceal their 
unhappiness." 

FERDINAND. — "I know, I know, dear consort, but thus it ever was and ever will 
be. The weaker carries the heavier load; but have done and smile again, my 
love, for look, 'tis a holiday, and throngs of thy subjects do their beautiful 
queen great homage this day," (Shouts heard without, "Long live our beauti- 
ful queen and good king.") 

ISABELLA. — " 'Tis even so, my lord. Would I could make a single soul happy to- 
day. I swear it now; ii ere the summer sun sets in the west this day I can by 
any act make one soul really happy, I will do all in my power though it talces 
all my power, all my w^ealth, all my position." 

FERDINAND. — "A rash vow, my love; mayst thou never repent it. Thou art ex- 
cited, and the blood flushes red thy usually white cheek. Thou tremblest too. 
Calm thyself, dear heart." 

ISABELLA. — "I will, my lord ; but it was no idle vow I made, nor was it the inspi- 
ration of a moment. Until the sun has set my vow shall remain in force." 

FERDINAND. — "So be it, I trust thou mayst have no call to repent thy impetuosity." 
(Enter servant.) 

SERVANT. — "There waits withovit a man of the people who desires audience." 

FERDINAND.— "What would he with us." 

SERVANT.— "That will he not tell, my liege, except to thee." 

FERDINAND.— "Bid him enter." (Exit servant, soon appearing again ushering in 
Columbus. Columbus advances to foot of throne, falls on one knee, puts his 
hand on his heart and bends low his head.) "Rise, my good man, who art thou 
and what wouldst thou have ? " 

COLUMBUS.— "I am a sailor who loves Spain and her King and Queen; but within 
me burns a greater love; 'tis the love of conquest, change, discovery. In my 
dreams I sail to other worlds, and revel for the time in golden lands of wonder- 
ful fertility and beauty, and in climes where summer ever reigns; but when I 
wake, I weep, my disappointment is so great. I walk down by the water side 
and gaze out towards the misty blue where the laughing skies kiss with bended 



9 

face the sparkling waves, and where the waters, far beyond and out of sight 
bid that other land 'good morrow'. I cannot live so, "twere better far to die 
and dream no more." (Folds his arms and gazes downward.) 

ISABELLA — "What is thy errand here then, my good man? Fear not thy king 
and queen. We are but mortals as thyself, and though placed on thrones yet 
our ears are ever open to the words and wants of our subjects. What is it then 
thou wouldst have ? " 

COLUMBUS. — "I would seek other lands, noble lady. I feel within my heart 
something that bids me 'seek ! seek ! ! ' I would have money to aid me in this 
enterprise, ships and men, and then if thou dost grant me aid, Spain's flag shall 
float triumphant over other worlds that Columbus shall discover, and these 
lands shall more than repay Spain for her outlay." 

FERDINAND. — "'Tis visionary, 'tis but an idle dream. Come, my good fellow, 
cease from thy castles that are but built in air, no more substantial than thy 
veriest dreams which laugh at thee when morn throws wide the portals of the 
eastern sky to let in the smiling day. Take this purse and buy thee a boat and 
sail in the harbor; and when at eve thy fishing done, at peace with all mankind, 
thou canst idly float upon the tide and sing the evening hymns as only Genoe- 
sian sailors can." 

COLUMBUS. — **'Tis attractive, this picture thou presentest, to him who likes his 
ease, but to me 'tis but idle chafi" which floats upon the lightest breeze. I can 
no more lay aside my hopes and aspirations than thou, my liege, can lay aside 
thy kingly robes and become a plebian or a base born knave." 

ISABELLA (to King). — "He speaks well." (Starts). "My vow, my vow! I must 
help him. It cannot be otherwise, for still is the sun high in the heavens, and 
'twill be many hours ere it sinks to rest in the evening sky. Remember what I 
said, my lord. Can I revoke it ? " 

FERDINAND. — "Nay, I would not have thee for my life; but thinkest thou at what 
great price his happiness must be obtained ? 'Tis no paltry sum he asks, where 
is it to be had ? Our treasury is long since bankrupt, and that is why I look so 
sad, though I did not mean to tell thee, love; but it must needs be told thee now." 

ISABELLA. — "Are we then in such great straits, my liege, and is that why the 
frown sits so constantly upon thy face where once naught but smiles rested 
when thou didst behold me ? Then smile again, true love, for every jewel in 
my possession will I part with for thee and my country." 

FERDINAND. — "Nay, dear love, thou dost not understand me. Thy jewels were 
but a drop compared with our ocean of wants; neither would I consent to see 
the Spanish Queen (even were she not my wife) part with them; but I appre- 
ciate the olfer and thank thee with all my heart; but see, the poor man, 
Columbus waits for thee; Give him thine answer." (Enter Servant.) 

SERVANT. — "My liege, a man without desires audience." 

FERDINAND.— "Bid him enter." 

(Exit servant and soon ushers in Americus Vespucius who bows low several times.) 
FERDINAND.— "What is it, my good man? Speak up." 
AMERICUS (glaring at Columbus.) "I would see thee privately." 
FERDINAND.— "I desire no secret conclaves, say what thou hast, /lere." 
AMERICUS (pointing to Columbus.)— "Let this man go out." 
FERDINAND (to Columbus.)— "Retire to the ante-room." (To Americus.) "Now 

he has gone what can I do for thee ? " 
AMERICUS. — "My liege, I am a sailor, and I dream of lands beyond the sea, and I 

would see them." 
FERDINAND (aside.) — Well, well, this is getting monotonous." (To Americus.) 

"And I suppose thou wouldst have me furnish the ships, hire sailors, and pay 

all the bills." 
AMERICUS. — Yes, that's it, how pat thou dost put it. It would have taken me 

half an hour at least to have gotten ai-ound to the point." 
FERDINAND. — "Yes, I suppose so; but the fact is, there's another varlet ahead of 

thee, and ought by rights to have first chance if any one is to have it at all. 

First come, first served, thou knowest." 



10 

AMERICUS.— "Yes, I know all that; but I think yon fellow is a crank." 

FERDINAND.— "What makes thee think so "i " 

AMERICUS. — ' 'O I can hardly say, — but, ah — didst notice he parts his hair in the 
middle ? " 

FERDINAND. — "An what of that? Many of our commoners and even lords do 
that. Does it follow that they are all cranks? " 

AMERICUS. — "Of course not; but didst note his ruffle all askew and his hosen 
mismatched ? " 

FERDINAND.— "Out upon thee for an ill natured fellow. Thou art hardly fair to 
Columbus. "We'll get ye two together, and test your merits side by side." (To 
page who stands by) "Bid the servant of the inner hall usher in Columbus." 

(Exit page. Enter servant ushering in Columbus.) 

FERDINAND (to Columbus.)— "Dost know this man? " (Points to Americus.) 

COLUMBUS.— "I do, my liege." 

FERDINAND (to Americus.)— "Dost know Columbus?" 

AMERICUS.— "I do, my hege, a tricky sniveling varlet." 

FERDINAND (to Columbus.;— "What sayest thou of Americus?" 

COLUMBUS.— "That he is a good sailor, is a brave man, but that he tells no truth 
when he calls me varlet or snivehng; and were it not for thy presence and that 
of the good queen Isabella, he would now lie a corse on that floor." 

FERDINAND (aside.)—" 'Tis well said. I liked not his looks at the first; but 
Isabella shall decide. My love, wilt thou test these men and see which is best 
entitled to our support ? " 

ISABELLA.— "We know both are brave, for Columbus has so said of the other, 
and we know Columbus is brave for he resents an injury and speaks well of an 
enemy; therefore methinks Columbus is the braver, and to him shall be the 
support of Spain." 

FERDINAND.—" 'Tis enough, Americus, thou mayst go." (Exit Americus scowl- 
mg and bowing.) "And now, Columbus, Spain accepts thee as the discoverer 
of the lands beyond the seas; but hold ! " (Turns to Isabella, takes her hands 
and walks away from Columbus to front of stage.) "I forgot we haven't any 
money. Why, I haven't paid our last month's bills yet. What under the sun 
are we to do? other lands waiting to be discovered, a discoverer all engaged, 
and not a real in the treasury. Was any one ever in such a box?" 

ISABELLA.— "My vow, my vow! The sun throws slanting rays, and already the 
west glows brightly with its golden beams. I must pledge or sell my iewels. 
my hege. It must be done." r- o y j . 

FERDINAND. — ' 'Isabella. " 

ISABELLA.— "No, no— ask me not to parley; it must be done and at once. 'Twould 

/,If.'^!?.,^ ,£?"^'''i^,*,° ^*°"®' ^'^^"^^ t^^« s"» g*' down and my vow be 

once " ^ ^"^^ P^^^-^ "^^^^ ^"""^ ^^''^ ^- Mandelbaum at 

FERDINAND.— "But my love—" 

ISABELLA. -(Waving hand to page.) "Go at once. I will listen to nothing else." 
(HiXit page.) ° 

FERDINAND.— (Folds arms and looks gloomily downward ) "The die is raRt 
there IS no other way to stem the current." "^^<ira ; ine aie is cast, 

ISABELLA.-"Do not look so, dear love. I have faith enough to beheve that 
Columbus by his discoveries, will bring into the treasury of Spain far more 
than we shall give him for his venture.'' ^ 

FERDINAND.-"Well thou art a woman, and for a woman hast a wonderfully 

inS iude " ^tLv T''(^''i'''\''^^ ^^^r' ^^^«- ^«-«'- 1^°«^ ^ wS' SCO J 
mgi atitude. (They clasp hands and face the audience. Enter page. ) 

PAGE.— "Levi waits without." 



11 

ISABELLA.— "Escort Columbus to the ante-room and usher Levi in." 

(Exit Columbus and page, and soon page re-enters with Levi.) 

LEVI (bowing )— "I was mooch bleased, my laty und lort to see you so mooch 
healty dis afternoon." 

ISABELLA.— "Thanks, good man; but I have not sent to thee for idle compli- 
ments, but on a matter of business." 

LEVI.— "Id makes no difference vetter I gomes for peesnis oder gombUments. I 
ish retty for both." 

ISABELLA (to page.)— "Tell John the locksmith to bring my iron box and the keys 
instantly." 

(Exit page off R. Enters again from R with John and two men carrying heavy 
box.) 

JOHN.— "Set it here, my friends." (Puts box on table.) "What will my lady have? " 

ISABELLA.— "Unlock the box and thee and thy men retire." (John unlocks the 
box and goes off R with men.) 

ISABELLA (taking out necklace.)— "Levi, what canst thou pay me for this?" 

LEVI.— "Surely my laty is shoking. My laty need not to sell her shewels like a 
bankrupt." 

ISABELLA. — "Make no comment, but answer my question." 

LEVI. — "Let me see it, my laty." (Takes it in his hand and examines it in all 
lights earnestly.) "O my laty, I will gif you five hundert golden ducats, and 
so hellup me Moses, I lose more ash ein hundert ducats when I pays it." 

ISABELLA (taking brooch.)— "And how much for this? " 

LEVI. — "Das ist not so wort, my laty. I will gif you fiefty ducats for das." 

ISABELLA. — "I cannot barter in this way." (To page) "Call in Columbus." (Exit 
page, soon returning with Columbus. Isabella to Columbus.) "How much 
money mvist thou have for thy venture ? " 

COLUMBUS. — "Ten thousand golden ducats at least, my lady." 

ISABELLA. — "That is enough. Thou mayst retire to the ante-room." CColumbus 
retires. To Levi) "Look over the box and tell me what thou canst give for the 
whole." 
(Levi looks them over carefully. Ferdinand paces the stage shaking his head. 

The queen wrings her hands nervously, and the ladies in attendance look at each 

other, smile and nod or shake their heads.) 

LEVI. — "I vill gif my laty nine tausend funf hundert golden ducats." 

ISABELLA (clasping her hands.) — "Say ten thousand, my good man, say ten 
thousand." 

LEVI. — "Id vill ruin me body and soul." (Walks away wringing his hands.) "Id 
vill ruin me, but I must do it for my bootiful laty." (Turns to Isabella) "I vill 
do it though I vill lose more ash ein tausend golden ducats, my laty, but Levi 
vill do it." 

ISABELLA. — "Thanks, my good man. You relieve me much; but the sun is rap- 
idly sinking. Pay me at once and get thee hence with thy treasures, all too 
cheaply purchased." 

LEVI. — "My laty, I vill come kweek mit der ducats und bring der shewels. I vas 
pay too mooch alretty, but I vill come right away, pretty kweek." (Bows his 
way out obsequiously.) 

ISABELLA. — 'My vow is nearly accomplished. It will be completed when I pay 
Columbus the money." 

FERDINAND. — "Nay, but thou hast parted with thy jewels at a sorry price; but I 
had not the heart to discourage thee. Call in Columbus, tell him to perfect 
his plans, engage his fleet, hire his men and call upon thee for his pay." 

ISABELLA. — (To page) "Call Columbus." (Exit page soon re-appearing with 
Columbus.) "Columbus, thy queen has faith in thee; she has sold her jewels 



13 



to help thee in this enterprise. Do not forget her faith and do not disappoint 
her hopes and trust in thee," 
COLUMBUS.— (Dropping to his knees takes Isabella's hand in one of his and lifting 
the other hand says): "I pledge thee my loyalty, my best services, and my Me. 

TABLEAU. 

CURTAIN DOWN. 



HOT I^. 



(All join)- 



Scene, Interior of Inn "Paekhorse," The four sailors irJio aiJpeared in Ad Have , 
seated at a table on which is spread a supx)er. I 

(One sailor sings) — . 1 

O love, my love is a sailor s maid * 

And I am a sailor true; 
And when I haste to sail my boat 
I bid her a fond adieu. 

(All join chorus) — 

For I sail and sail away my cares, 

But not my love so true; 
And I hasten home across the foam 
To her whom I bade adieu. 
« 
(Sailor sings) — 

Then here's to the land in which we hve, 

And here's to the ship and crew; 
And here's to the hearts that beat as one; 
And here's to the maid that's true. 

For we sail and sail away our cares 

But not our loves so true; 
And hasten home across the foam, 

To those whom we bade adieu. 

(Enter SUZI at R). — "Well, boys, thaVs well sung and I like to hear it and see thee 
all so merry; but the landlord says" — 

(All shout)— "Plague take the landlord." 

SUZI. — (Looking shyly around and biting the corner of her apron.) "That's what 
I say too sometimes, though I wouldn't have him hear me for the world; but 
ye really musn't make so much noise or I'll be obliged to order thee all out and 
lock up the house. There, here comes the landlord now." (Enter portly 
landlord at L.) 

LANDLORD. — "Well, well, gentlefolks, this is a nice party, I must say. Not a 
wink of sleep have I had the afternoon through, though I've sat in my chair 
until the evening with my handkerchief over my head. Not a snore even. 
Gentry must make less noise or out they go." 

VILETTO. — "Pretty pass things have come to if a few jolly souls can't sing out 
their good spirits over a good supper. Come landlord, I hear thou wast once 
a rollicking blade thyself. Give us a song just to start us off." 

LANDLORD. — "Well, I think it would start thee off should I but sing a stave. 

Have done thy foolish pleasantries and hie thee home. 'Tis time thy boats 

went sailing down the bay." 

(Enter BEPPO at R.)— "Is Longa and Patra and Zego and Viletto here ? " 

SAILORS.— "Yes, all of us." 

BEPPO.— "Then wiU I run and tell Master Columbus who waits without." (Starts 
to run off.) 

LONGA.— "Here Beppo, tcait. What wants the sour visaged Columbus? We want 
naught with Mm." 



13 

BEPPO. — *'I know not, comrades, but he asked for thee, and I love him so I would 
do him service; and I ran to find thee, well knowing that at this hour thou 
wouldst be seeking good entertainment at the 'Packhorse,' where honest Jacko 
boils the bones and trusses the flitches to a turn." 

PATRA. — "Goo(?, GOOD, my Beppo. Thou dost make the honest Jacko blush with 
thy shy compliments, but tell us, where is Columbus ? " 

BEPPO. — "He is here, close by, not a stone's toss away, and he is jolly as a bat in 
a churchyard." 

ZEGO. — " Ha, ha! ho, ho, ho! That's a good one indeed." 

VILETTO.— "What more, good Beppo?" 

BEPPO. — "Naught but that I must hie away swiftly and bring Columbus, for he 
would chat with these gentlemen." (Beppo goes out at R.) 

PATRA. — "Well, what's in the wind nmv I wonder ? " 

ZEGO. — "O its the old story, methinks, a man gone daft for other worlds, and no 
boats to get to them. O woe's me! " 

VILETTO. — "Hush, here comes Columbus. Let's treat him well at least." (All 
laugh and cry "hush ! hush ! " Enter Beppo and Columbus.) 

COLUMBUS. — "Ah here ye are my braves; and now answer me at once. Who 
sails with me to other worlds ? " 

LONGA. — "How sail ye, in a cockle boat ? " 

ZEGO.— "Or wilt walk? " 

VILETTO. — "What foolishness. Show me thy ship and I will list the moment." 

COLUMBUS. — "The ships will soon be ready. 1 have this day secured aid from 
the king and queen. A fleet will soon be here, and I am now selecting my 
crew. A hundred golden ducats to every man who stands by me to the end, 
and a safe return, covered with wealth and honors, I feel I can safely guarantee." 

LONGA.— "Then I am with thee." 

OTHERS.— "And I, and I, I, I." 

LONGA— ZEGO— VILETTO— PATRA. 

COLUMBUS. LANDLORD. 

BEPPO. SUZI. 

CURTAIN DROPS ON ACT IV. 



Scene, Casement windmv of inn. Stage dark. Beppo stands beneath window tuning 
guitar. 

(He sings) ; — 

love listen, Fling wide the lattice 
The stars glisten. Speak but a word, 
But not so bright For I am near thee 
Are they to-night Dost thou not hear me ? 
As are 'the eyes Speak but a word 

Of her I prize. It will be heard. 

Peace broods o'er aU Soon will I go 

The earth arcund To distant lands away, 

And nature rests And o'er the sea 

In sleep profound. Sail far from thee. 

1 sing for thee; Wilt thou then weep 
Then list to me. And true love keep V 

(Lattice opens and a hand appears. Beppo kisses it and begins to talk.) 

BEPPO. — "O Suzi, Beppo will soon go over the sea with Columbus, and he cannot 
go until he knows if he has Suzi's love. Speak, Suzi, for Beppo must go soont 



14 

for even now he hears the dog barking, and he fears the landlord Jacko will 
set him on " (Dog heard behind curtain at rear. Beppo dances frantically 
still holding on to the hand.) "Haste thee, Suzi." (Moon begins to shine.) "The 
moon rises over the wood and throws long rays of light across the space that 
but a moment since was wrapped in gloom. Ah beauteous moon," (dog barks) 
"there's the dog barking again. I wish the moon would wait a few minutes. 
Haste thee, Suzi. and tell thy Beppo if thou dost love him. Why, I verily be- 
lieve I hear thee chuckling to thyself." 

SUZI.— "Nay, my good Beppo, thine ears are so long, they (like the shells thou pick- 
est up on the shore) carry concealed the sounds they hear by day. I did not 
chuckle, how could I ? But thou must hasten or the moon and Jacko's dog will 
undo thee. Haste thee and see me on the morrow. Here is a present, I got it 
for thee this afternoon." 

BEPPO.— "Thanks, good Suzi, I will wear it ever next my heart." 

SUZI. — "Not so, my good Beppo, for it will not keep. Open it when I am gone. 
And now good night and sweet sleep to thee." (Pulls her hand away and shuts 
the lattice.) 

BEPPO.— "Good night, dear Suzi— Wonder what the darling has here for me." 
(Opens bundle and pulls out macaroni. Looks at it in a disappointed way and 
walks slowly off R eating it.) 
(Enter Longa at L, tunes a guitar and takes his position near Suzi's window and 
sings.) — 

While thou sleepest Hast thou a thought 

Stars are watching love, Heart beat, or hope, love 

Peace broods o'er the earth, For him who sings to thee ? 

Soft shines the moon above. Then add a note dove, 

List then to me, List to my lay. 

My heart calls to thee. Hearken I pray. 

Out on the sea 

Waves are in motion, 
Waves of my mighty love 

Surge like the ocean, 
Never at rest. 
Thee I love best. 
(Lattice opens and Suzi's head appears.) 
SUZL— "O Longa, is it thou ? " 

LONGA. — "And who would it be, sweetheart, but me ? " Just let me know of 
another coming here to serenade my Suzi and his hard skull shall crack like a 
frosted pipkin, I promise thee." 

SUZI. — "Now don't get angry, good Longa, or Suzi wiU send thee away. Beppo 
has but just gone and — " 

LONGA.— "Beppo ? s-death." 

SUZI. — "O hush, art thou jealous of that poor fellow?" Why he's in love 
with every girl he meets, or thinks he is which is much the same thing for him 
at least; but he hurried off. He was afraid the dog would bite him. Ha, ha, 
ha! I laughed so the honest fellow heard me and accused me of chuckling — the 
idea! and I had to tell him a little white lie. Art thou sorry or glad, Longa? 
And I sent him away with a big roll of macaroni, and he went off munching it. 
You ought to have seen him. I watched him out of sight." 

LONGA. — "You did. Well, I'll watch him myself a while methinks, the little' raf- 
catcher. I'll flay him alive when next I meet him." 

SUZI. — "Do it and I'll never speak to thee, again, never; and if thou smilest not 
at once and dost not lay aside thy fit of jealousy, Suzi will shut the lattice and 
go to bed." 

LONGA. — "Dear Suzi, forgive me; but I cant bear to have another look at thee. 
Dost know that I sail on the morrow ? " 

SUZL— "O Longa." 

LONGA.— "Yes, I sail with Columbus. The fleet lies anchored in the Bay and all 
is ready. I like it not and cannot sleep this night. Suzi, when far out on the 



15 

deep I shall have naught to keep me from falling overboard unless thou 
dost give me thy love. What dost say ? " 

SUZL— "O Longa, must thou go? I never thought of thee before as I do novr 
that thou must go so soon, When we had a holiday and walked the orange 
groves together, I thought nothing at all, and my heart was light and happy; 
and now, (cries booh hooh). Dost remember Our Lady's Day, dear Longa ? " 

LONGA.— "Ask me if I ever forgot any day on which I have met and walked with 
thee. Ah, dear love, soon must I leave thee, perhaps forever." 

SUZL— "Well, good bye Longa. Perhaps thou wilt run in on the morrow to bid 
the Landlord adieu, and thou mayst perchance see me also." 

LONGA.— "Yes, dear Suzi, and let it be at the little bridge in the glen." 

SUZL— "All right, Longa. I will tell Landlord Jacko to be there." 

LONGA.— "No, no, thou witch, be thou there thyself at seven; never mind the 
landlord. I hope I may never see his ugly face again." 

SUZL— "Well, poor boy, I will be there alone then at seven in the morning. Good 
night, and mayst thou sleep sweetly till the morning dawns." 

(Longa kisses his hand to her while curtain slowly drops.) 



KCT MI. 

Scene on board vessel. Columbus i^aeing the deck alone, imising. 

"The night is beautiful, too beautiful for hearts charged with trouble like 
mine; for even now, when loyal to duty, my queen and Spain, my men are in 
a mutiny and rise against me. O moon, that ridest the heavens in such calm 
majesty, thou reckest little whether the earth thou dost illumine is filled with 
pleasure or woe, joy or sadness, health or sickness, gaiety or sorrow. There 
must be a rest somewhere beyond this life of trouble and turmoil. Look 
kindly on me, gentle moon, and bring me good luck on the morrow, if so be 
thou canst dispense it, I must sleep now. For forty -eight hours these eyes 
have neither slept nor closed themselves. For forty-eight hours these feet 
have paced the deck with unceasing tread. For forty -eight hours mine eyes 
have sought eagerly the further waters for sight of land, while men, men? did 
I say 'men'? demons! cried around me, 'Turn back, turn back we say, or thy life 
shall pay the forfeit; and then we will turn the prow again to Spain's fair 
shores.' But I must sleep. The brain grows weary with the weakening frame, 
and the heart experiences already a touch of cowardice it never felt before. O 
dire emergency! What holds time for me? The few hours which will so 
quickly fly, those hours that are in touch with failure and disgrace or glorious 
success and victory. I could weep — but no. I will be brave to the end. It 
shall never be said with truth that Columbus showed a coward's heart or shed 
a woman's tear. Hi, man at the wheel, keep her to the morning star and rouse 
me if I sleep too heavily " (Throws blanket on deck and lying on it soon falls 
asleep. Enter sailors from hold of vessel.) 

ZEGO. — (With knife in hand.) "Ha, he sleeps, now we can despatch him. One 
minute is enough, and then he who breathes so softly now will lie a corse in 
the waters around. What say ye all? " 

GABION. — "I say a^e; for out from the dark— far astern — lies Spain, the lovliest 
land in the wide world , and there Zelotte sits the day through and weeps for 
her Gabion. Aye again say I." 

LONGA. — "What matters it, I say, another day. The master says 'one day more 
and then back we go to sunny Spain if no land appears,' Then better is it to 
wait and have no bloodshed on our hands and hearts." 

VILETTO. — "So say I. The master's bold and brave. I say, and wouldst kill him 
like a dog with no chance to defend himself? Out upon such butchery; I will 
have none of it. Wait a day longer; 'twere better so." 

ZEGO. — (Sheathing knife.) "Well, so be it. The morning glows in the east and 
soon the day will come and swift will glide away. We'll wait." 



16 

(Cry from above)— "Land ho! Land ho! " 
(All cry)— "Land ho! Land ho! " 

COLUMBUS.— (Starting to his feet staggering and both arms extended above his 
head.) "Where? What do I hear? Land? land? Do I really hear the words 
or do I dream ? " 

(Shouts from sailors.)— "Land ho! Land ho! " 

COLUMBUS.— "O blessed day, no longer filled with grave misgivings; no more I 
dream— 'tis reality. My sovereign, my life, my loyalty. A reward doth come 
at last, the purpose of my life is accomplished. Hand me the glass." (He 
looks.) "Yes, I see it now, a low lying beach with higher lands beyond, and 
trees. What said I yesterday when birds swept by, and bark and twigs sailed 
on the crested waves ? Did I not promise to return if we sighted no land 
to-day? " (Cries of "Thou didst, thou didst.") 

COLUMBUS.— "And did I not chide ye all for cowards ? " (Cries of "Thou didst, 
thou didst.") 

COLUMBUS.— (Sadly) "And ye would have killed me while I slept." (All kneel. ) 

ZEGO. — "He is a wizard, he sees when he sleeps and needs no eyes or ears to 
see and hear." 

COLUMBUS.— "Make ready then to land." (Men rise.) "Get out the flag of Spain 
for all the soil on which I plant my feet will I take possession of for Spain, and 
her banner shall wave there in token of my loyalty, faith and perseverance." 

(Men huddle around Columbus, who stands at the prow with sword in one hand, 
banner in the other, and eyes turned upward.) 

TABLEAU. 

CURTAIN DOWN ON ACT VI. 



Curtain rises on the Forest Scene same as in Act I. Columbus and his men are met 
hy the Indians. Chief advances to Columbus with right hand extended. He grasps 
the right hand of Columbus and says: 

CHIEF. — "Welcome the brother who comes from a far country. Welcome the 
brother whose face shines with the light of a brighter sun than shines upon the 
dusky brow of his red brother. Welcome to the brother and his warriors who 
come from the far country across the sea, to which the Red Man can never go. 
The Red Man has been taught a lesson to-day and is humble His spirit was 
too large for its casket, and it hovered over it and proclaimed to the Red Men's 
world that he was mightiest of its inhabitants. The Red Man could build 
canoes that would carry a handful of warriors to the other shore; the Red Man 
could trap the otter and the bear, could slay the deer, the wildcat, the buffalo, 
and he thought he was mighty in the land; but now comes a pale face with 
mighty men of war in a canoe all the tribes of Redskins could never have fash- 
ioned. The colors of his dress are brighter than the dyes the Redskins' squaws 
love to make from the sumach and the mountain berry. The Red Man has a 
bow, and his quiver is full of arrows: but the white man brings a strange 
implement in his hands that the Red Man knows not of." 

(Columbus motions to a sailor, who fires his gun. Indians start back.) 

CHIEF.— "Yes, even the thunders and the hurricane are in his hands. The Red 
Man has found one mightier than he. Will the pale faced Chief accept him as 
a brother and a subject?" (Chief kneels and all the other Indians do the same.) 

COLUMBUS.— "Here plant I the banner of Spain. Bow not to me. Chief of the 
Red Men. To Spain, the golden land of sunrise beyond the seas, send your 
homage, I proclaim ye all good subjects of Spain, her good King Ferdinand 
and Queen Isabella." (Turns to followers) "Men, go bring the presents for the 
natives," (Men go and soon return with heavy chest which they set down oa 
stage. They open it and take out various articles of wearing apparel with 
which the Indians deck themselves, putting the articles to various wrong uses. 



I 



17 

Beads and trinkets are given, and the Medicine Man receives a huge mirror 
and looks at his face in it and then dodges his head suddenly around back of it 
to see the man on the other side. Failing to find him after repeated trials, he 
shakes his head and appears greatly puzzled, finally hanging the glass around 
his neck by the cord. He then begins to haul things out of the chest but is 
prevented by one of the sailors who yells in his ears through a speaking trum- 
pet, "Let things alone," at which Medicine Man falls down in affright.) 

CHIEF. — "Ah, the white brother is mighty and he has a kind heart. Will he come 
with his warriors to the Chief's wigwam and partake of the meat his squaws 
have prepared?" 

COLUMBUS'— "Yes, noble Chief, the pale brother will break bread with his red 
brother, and so long as no treachery exists, so long shall the Red Men and white 
faces hunt and fish together, and the pipe of peace shall go 'round and 'round 
the camp fire; but when treachery enters the camp, and harm is breathed to 
the pale face by his red brother, then shall the tempest and the whirlwind hurl 
their mighty forces against the treacherous, and the lightnings and mighty 
thunders leap from their fastnesses in the mountains and carry death and de- 
struction before them in their path. I have spoken, does the Red Chief 
understand ? " 

CHIEF. — "The Red Man hears and his heart is full of sorrow that his white brother 
should think his heart is bitter while his words are sweet. To welcome a 
brother to his wigwam, to feed, to honor and then deceive him, would work 
the Red Man ruin from his gods. To follow the good deeds with bad ones 
would grieve the gentle spirits of Netka and Thorva. The Red Chief has 
spoken what he believes. Are his words understood ?" 

COLUMBUS. — "We understand each other. Chief, but my men are not so delicate 
in what is called 'honor' as thou and I. They will brook no insolence from 
thy men. The knife which scarcely knows its home — the sheath — in sunny 
Spain, will flash methinks its brightness as readily here in the forest, and I 
fancy the Red Man's blood will flow as smoothly upon its silvery surface as e'er 
a Spaniard's. Thou hadst best advise thy men to observe due caution in their 
acts and conversation." 

(Hunters enter and throw down a carcass upon the floor and proceed to remove 
the pelt. A fire is started and slices of meat put on to cook. Squaws busy them- 
selves over the fire cooking the meat. Columbus, his men, the Chief, Medicine 
Man and Indians seat themselves on the floor, and the meat is served on leaves and 
pieces of bark. While eating, the Princess comes on the stage.) 

PRINCESS.— "Father! " 

(Every sailor jumps up, drops his meat and puts his hand upon his heart. Beppo 
and Longa produce their guitars and each begins to sing the same ballad he sang 
beneath Suzi's window.) 

COLUMBUS.— "Stop this nonsense." 

SAILOR.— (Through his speaking trumpet.) "Quit that fooling." 

(Princess runs crying and frightened off tne stage. Several Indians pick up their 
bows and face the Spaniards, who each draws his knife with exception of Beppo 
and Longa who hold up their guitars as clubs. Columbus, the Chief and Medicine 
Man rush in between to separate the belligerants. 

CURTAIN DROPS. 

Columbus. 

Spaniards. Chief. Medicine Man. Indians. 



MCT :^iii. 



Scene: Forest. 

(Columbus paces back and forth nervously.)-"Well, well, of all the folly in the world 

this is the most stupendous. Here we are to sail for home to-morrow and six 

of my best sailors are bound to get married to Indian squaws. I've tried my 

best to BUY them off but it can't be done, and now I have sent for the priest 



18 

who came with us, and expect him soon to confer with me upon the subject. 
Of all troubles I have had since I left home this is the worst. Ah, here comes 
the good father." (Enter priest.) "Welcome, father; and how does this life 
amid the wild scenes of nature affect thee ? " 
PRIEST.— "To one who only lives for others it makes little difference where he 
may be so he can find work to do, my son." 

COLUMBUS.— "Well, good father, meihinks there will soon be work enough for 
thee. Why, but now I am bemoaning myself because six of my bravest sailors 
have become soft as an aged melon, and insist on carrying home Indian brides." 

PRIEST.— "And who shall stay the hand of love? Wilt thou, my son? Even 
now I recollect me that I saw last night on the craggy cliff that lay so beautiful 
underneath the moon's soft rays, Coliimbits, and by his side the beautiful Indian 
Princess; and if my eyes did not deceive me, his arm was around her waist 
while he poured soft words in her ear. Was the poor father mistaken? " 

COLUMBUS. — "I have no time for further talk, good father. We sail on the mor- 
row, and these rash men will call upon thee for thy services. Canst thou not 
forbid the banns and call upon their heads grave penalties if they take the steps 
they intend ? " 

PRIEST. — "Not so, good Columbus, thou knowest little of the church and her 
priests if thou thinkest they meddle with, or harm such matters as have to do 
with the hearts and pure loves of men and women. If they ask me to marry 
them I will do so, in Nature's temples and before her mountains for altars. Go 
good Columbus, and prepare for a right joyous holiday, and let this sextette 
wedding in these primeval forests be the more joyous for thy good comrade- 
ship; then when thou dost return, thy men will the better honor and obey thee. 
Dost thou forget that when thou dost return thou wilt reap double advantage 
when thou canst present at the Court of Spain these dusky maidens of a new 
race from a new world? Thou hast heretofore shown rare judgment and dis- 
cernment; let it not all be undone now as thou neareth the close of deeds that 
shall rock the continents, by a rash act that may cause thy ruin and death. Do 
ye not see that if these men are thwarted they will pursue one of two courses ? 
Either they will refuse to return, leaving thee without sufficient help to sail 
thy fleet, or they will sail away from thee and return to Spain, report thee 
dead—even if they do not slay thee — and thus snatching away the honors thou 
hast richly earned, will cause Columbus' name to go down to the coming gen- 
erations, unwept, unhonored and unsung; and tliou wilt mourn alone perchance 
for all thy life, the folly of an act that wise counsel can prevent. Wilt consider 
my son, and take the wiser course ? " 

COLUMBUS.— "My father, thou art right, always right. May thy counsels be 
ever heeded, and then will no man who listens e'er go astray. I will abide by 
them, and putting on a cheerful mask at least, will for once join the savage 
gambols at the wedding and feast, and be a jovial, genial soul at the merry 
making." 

PRIEST.— '-Do so, brave man, and thy men will love thee better. Thou canst not 
draw them up to thy height, but if thou dost descend to their level, it will but 
bind them closer to thee and will do thee no harm." 

CURTAIN DOWN. 



MOT IX. 

Scene: Forest. 

(Chief and Medicine Man stand facing each other.) 

CHIEF.— "Medicine Man, thy Chief is angry. Let the once great Medicine Man of 
the Ojibbeways explam himself." 

^^^n?iln H^VT^'^.i? ^^'-^ ?'^^* ^^"^^ ^''Sry- Has not his Medicine Man 
done all that the Great Spirit has given him power to do ? " 

^^^S^"";^"^^^ ^'"^^ knows not the power. He even suspects that his Medicine 
Man has no more power than any other red brother. Will the Medicine Man 
exp am why this man Columbus comes here and discovers us, when the forces 
ot the earth, the air and sky as interpreted by the falling star of the Little 



19 

Bear and the occult power of an heretofore unknown past as written on the 
page of bloodshed, in words of glowing fiame, declared that a man, by name 
'Americus Vespucius' should now be standing here ? " 

MEDICINE MAN.— "The glories have fallen from the brow of thy Medicine Man, 
O Chief. His heart is withered within him and his mouth is dry like the 
ripened gourd. His power has gone from him, he knows not how or why. He 
but read on the page of bloodshed what was there written, and unlocked the 
mystery of the past with the key which was given him by the falling star of 
the Little Bear. Kill thy Medicine Man, O Great Chief, and let him sleep in 
peace with his fathers." (Falls on his face before the Chief.) 

CHIEF. — "Rise, Medicine Man, rise. Thy Chief is satisfied that thou hast spoken 
the truth. Some power greater than thou or thy Chief can know has diverted 
the events away from the track of prophecy. Rise and let us join the feast- 
ers. Thou art still Medicine Man of the Ojibbeways. Thou and thy Chief 
understand each other. It matters not the rest." 

MEDICINE MAN.— "May thy Medicine Man never forget the kindness of his Chief." 

(Shouts and songs without, and beating of kettle drums. Enter at right a proces- 
sion. Priest and Columbus arm in arm at the head, followed by the Princess who 
walks with a brave; behind them come the newly married couples, the brides 
richly attired in Indian costumes, the sailors neat and trim. The Indians keep 
chanting, they file across the stage and take their places at the left where they sit 
on the floor and drum furiously, swaying their bodies back and forth, keeping up a 
monotonous "yo ho. yo ho ho," with sudden changes in minor strains, finally 
chanting in a dirge like manner the following : 

' Bend low oh silent sky. 

Bend o'er the earth with gentle face, 

Let no frown of anger rest upon us. 

Unto the stranger race 
Nature bring thy choicest gifts, 
The corn, the grape, the wine. 

The bear, the wolf, the buffalo 

May roam the forest wilds in peace. 

The Red Man ceases from the hunt to-day. 

The morn is opening with a smile, 
But soon the day will glide away 
And only gloom will rest upon us. " 

(After this chant, Chief advances toward the brides and addresses them.) 

CHIEF. — "Gentle daughters of a red race, ye are to leave us. When thou art gone 
all Nature will weep and mourn for thee. No more will the forests ring with 
thy sweet laughter, no more wiU thy joyous shouts awake the echoes of the 
sleeping hills. Ye will join the pale faced race in the land of the rising sun. 
The Red Man will go to battle as before, but thy firm brave hands will not place 
the eagles' feathers in his locks, nor thy voice encourage him to deeds of brav- 
ery. The Red Man will hunt through the forests as in the days when thou 
wert with us, but thy smiles will not welcome him from the chase, nor thy 
words of praise give sweet music to his ear. The flowers will bloom as they 
did for thee, but thou wilt not be here to gather them. The harvest and hunt- 
er's moons will rise o'er yonder heights as of yore, but only in fancy wilt thou 
behold them or see their rays silver the waves of the lake, and the Indians' 
festal days will not be graced by the absent ones. Daughters of a dusky race, 
we shall miss but never forget thee. Farewell.''^ 

(Indians chant again) 

"Farewell, the air, the earth, the sky breathe it, 
Farewell, the breeze has told it to the pine. 
Farewell, farewell." 

MEDICINE MAN.— "Soon we must part. Daughters of a red race forget not thy 
past, but in remembering it forget not thy future. A new life walks ahead in 
thy path, follow where it leads. Go steadily, nobly as thy fathers have walked 
before thee. In the new world learn the new ways, and may the new life be a 
better one to ye all. Farewell." 



^0 

(Indians sing) „ , . . ^ . 

"Farewell, the day is flying, 
Farewell, all hearts are sighing, 
Farewell, farewell, farewell." 
COLUMBUS —"And now, O Chief and Medicine Man, we must part. Our caravel 
rocks on the bosom of the water impatient to turn her prow towards sunny 
Spain. To the Red Men who have treated us so hospitably, a good report shall 
be made to Spain's King and Queen. Thy daughters will be received in good 
homes by kind friends, and no fears but that they will be happy. But away, 
away; my work here is done. To sunny Spain we launch our boats. Men. a 
loud huzza for Spain, our home men, our home, our wives, our sweethearts. 
Huzza then loudly." 
(All shout)— "Huzza! huzza! ! huzza! ! ! 

CURTAIN DROPS. 



MGT X. 

Scene: Court of Spain, same 2Jersonages present as in Act III. Cries heard without 
"Long live Columbus, huzza! huzza! " 

ISABELLA.— "O joy is me. Listen, the shouts of a mighty populace, hark, the 
wild cheers, a Conqueror. Columbus has returned and will soon be here. 
Methinks he must nobly have fulfilled his pledges." 

FERDINAND. — "Yes, dear heart so say the wild rumors; but soon his own lips 
will proclaim the truth." (Shouts without "long live Columbus, huzza, huzza, 
etc.") 

FIRST LADY OF THE COURT (to Queen).— "Thy name, dear lady, should be 
the dearer (if possible) to-day to all Spain." 

SECOND LADY. — "Yes, dear queen, but for thy sacrifice there would be no such 
joy." 

THIRD LADY. — "Long live our beautiful queen." (AU the ladies shout) "Long 
live the good Isabella." 

(Enter servant.) Servant to Ferdinand. — "Columbus has returned, my liege, and 
would wait on thee. He has a retinue with him." 

FERDINAND. — "Admit Columbus alone; bid the others wait in the ante-room." 

(Exit servant, soon reappearing with Columbus who is richly clad.) 

COLUMBUS.— (Kneeling before the throne.) "I greet thee, my king, my queen, 
and lay at thy feet the substantial fruits of my voyage and promises." 

ISABELLA.— "Rise thee, good Columbus, rise and seat thyself and tell us of thy 
marvellous discoveries." 

FERDINAND.— Yes, rise thee; thou art at least our equal this day. Seat thyself 
and relate thy adventures." 

COLUMBUS.—" 'Tis a long story and I must keep it for another time. I must rest 
having but just left my caraval. My adventures are naught in themselves but 
the results are mighty to Spain and myself. My dreams have become realities, 
my castles have foundations more substantial than those on which this palace 
rests. Out beyond the waste of waters over which my fancy has so often 
sailed, I found a land more beautiful, fertile and varied than ever I had 
dreamed of. Wild beasts roam its forests, and a warlike but friendly race ex- 
tended to us great hospitahty. I brought with me some of these natives. 
They wait without " 

ISABELLA to page.— "Bid these natives enter." 

(Exit page, soon returning with the Indian brides. They stand erect before the 
throne and bow slightly.) 

ISABELLA.— "These then are my new subjects." 



21 

COLUMBUS. — ''Yes, and their tribes number thousands. I have proclaimed them 
thy subjects, and all the land of the new continent becomes the property of 
Spain, In the forests are animals valuable as food and for their furs. The 
lakes are covered with wild fowl, and their waters teem with fish. In the 
mountains are mines of copper and gold, and precious stones are often found 
by the Indian hunters. Beautiful birds fill the air with song, and wild flowers 
of varied hue and sweetest perfume abound. A climate soft and gentle invites 
to sweet peace and rest. A paradise of newness fresh from the Creator's hand, 
all quaint and never tiring. A new world, with a new people and new ways. 
The Indian men are stalwart and brave. Tliey walk as erect and proud as any 
Spanish noble, and the Indian women are beautiful, graceful and loving. They 
send their greeting to thee, my king, my queen." 

ISABELLA. — "Nobly, my good Columbus, hast thou acquitted thyself, and the 
nation thanks thee to day for all thou hast brought it. Not alone for the 
treasures, not alone the new world, not alone the new people, the new acquisi- 
tions, but also the true type of manhood thou thyself hast given us in thine 
own self. We thank thee for thy perseverance, thy persistency, thy indomi- 
table will, thy loyalty. Thy king and queen will not forget it all." (Takes 
from her finger a ring and places it on Columbus' finger.) "This is from thy 
queen; ever wear it, and so long as it remains upon thy hand it shall be a 
token of the bond that binds thee to thy queen, a bond without end, a bond 
never to be broken." 

(Shouts without) — "Long live Columbus and the good queen Isabella." 

LADIES OF THE COURT.— "Ay, long live Columbus and good queen Isabella." 

COLUMBUS. — (Raising his right hand and looking upward.) "Long live the good 
queen Isabella and the king Ferdinand." [Remains in this position.] 

[Shouts without] "Huzza! huzza! ! huzza! ! ! 

CURTAIN. 



Ifldiaiis' Chant. 



i\ 



_c_g — 



Why in the woods do 
the pinetrees sing ? Whv do they sob and moan ? Why do the winds their voices raise, 

n. c. T//e/i cry and shout 

to the ivorld about And ive viiist wait in vain, For the Spirifs car can only hear 



i 



Fine. 



W- 



:d=:J= 



~TJ"a* 



:=]: 



-gi- 



=d: 



:=l: 






^--^-±^ 



And whither but now have they flown ? They cry, they sigh, they die, they die ; 
The words of the wind and rain. They cry, they sigh, they die, they die. 



i 



-^-^ 



-si- 



i 



And where, ah where are their sighs today. And their breath, that it comes not back? 




1 



We have stood on the rock by the waters' side. 



And seen the tempest sweep 



Indians' Chant. 



i 



mr 



9i 



the tide, as it followed the sea-gull's track,And the sky grows gray to the angry day and the 

-J 4 



fifeb — nsi—- 



-m 



25~ 



breezes sigh and moan, But where they go, or where they stay the Great Spirit 



9± 



i; 



I 



:^=^ 



:«^ 



^: 






knows alone. Then whisper soft to my waiting ear and tell earth's secret low. 



:S==|: 



1=^ 



s 



p 



i 



i>.C. 






Pgii 



But we list in vain, for to us not plain is the voice of the winds that blow. 






-&«>- 



H 



"2?^ 



Sailors' il\\ovi\s> 



Allegro. 




1. O love, my love is a sail - or'sniaid, And I am 

2. Then here's to the land in which we live, And here's to 






=F- 



:j=^: 



the 



—I — •- 

1/ 



ship 



i^i^K-- 



or true ; 
and crew ; 



^i=^ 



rt 



And when I 
And here's to the 



haste 
hearts 



to sail 
that beat 



:=1: 






my boat 
as one ; 




And bid 



her 



And here's to 



the 



Chorus. 






*4i:ji 



— ^ — N- 



fond 



dieu. 



maid that's true. 



:i= 



--^—m- — 



Why I sail, and sail 
For we sail and sail 



i!.^ 



lit: 




a - way my cares. But not my love 



so true ; And I hast - en home 



way our cares, But not our loves so true ; And we hast - en home 



-P=^P- 



:t 




H 



:d: 



:t 



--:]- 



a - cross 
a - cross 



the foam To her whom 
the foam To those whom 






d: 



bade 
bade 



:j ^— 



-m- 
dieu. 
dieu. 



=^=f== 



I 



Lsfiga's Serenade. 



Moderato. 



-^-4 



1. While thou sleep-est Stars are watch-iiig, love, Peace broodso'er theearth, 

2. Hast thou a thought,Heart, beat, or hope, love. For him who sings to thee ? 

3. Out on the sea, Waves are in mo - tion, Waves of my might -y love 

' J-J J J^-J .J J— 4 






:J==1: 



I 



J ^— H-^- 




,^_H^_-1-^^^H^— h"^ -^-d— LI 



^^.^ 



Soft shines the moon a - bove,List then to me, My heart calls to thee. 
Then, add a note, dove. List to my lay, Then heark - en I pray. 
Surge like the o - cean, — Nev - er at rest, Oh, thee I love best. 



^^^: 



r — r- 



:4: 



^ — ^ — ^j 



Moderato. 



BeppQ's Serenade. 



— .--J- 



i 



t 



^^^^^mi^^m^ 



1. List - en, love, list-en; See the stars glist-en ; But 

2. Peace broods o'er all The earth a - round. And 

3. Fling wide the lattice, Speak but a word, For 

4. Soon will T go To distant lands a -wav, And 



~^i=P= 



It: 



X'- 



:p=P= 



r 



-ff- 



:N=ti: 



t- 



not so bright 

na ture rests 

I am near thee ; 

o'er the sea 

N 

=4=N: 




9^ 



Are they to - night As are 

In sleep pro - found. I sing 

Dost thou not hear me ? Speak but 



Sail 



the eyes Of 
for thee ; Then 
a word ; It 



her 
list 
will 



I prize, 
to me. 
be heard. 



far from thee. 



Wilt thou then weep And true love keep ? 



1 



pJiif^p 



